Our small stand of woodland in the bottom of the valley alongside the River Glaven is a special habitat. The ground here is wet, in some places very wet and almost always waterlogged. This is not, however, due to it being on a ‘flood-plain’ next to the river – the Glaven seldom over-tops its banks here – rather it is due to underground springs and seepages that keep the area wet. This is the same mechanism that keeps our meadows wet, even in the driest summer.

The degree of water-logging has affected the land-use here for a long time and it may be too treacherous for livestock. When Natural Surroundings moved to Bayfield in 1989 most of the site was used for grazing, but this area was fenced off and wooded, while the 1906 OS Map of the area has it marked as marsh and mixed woodland.
Our wet woodland is dominated by three species of tree: Sycamore, Ash and Alder, with an under-storey of Holly, Elm, Elder, and Almond Willow, together with non-native Red Osier Dogwood and Snowberry. Waterlogged ground is not good for many trees, and the Sycamore and Ash, once they get to a certain size may either die standing or fall over due to the quaking ground. Alder is, however, in its element and thrives; it is well-adapted to the wet conditions.

The dead and fallen trees, together with the swampy ground, make these woods hard to move around in and the atmosphere is almost primeval. The ‘wildwood’ of prehistory must have been very similar, only immeasurably bigger!

The large quantity of dead wood is a very important habitat for a wide range of insects, while the soft, decaying wood is beloved of woodpeckers.

The wet ground is good habitat for a range of plants, including two species of golden-saxifrage and the wonderfully-named Townhall Clock, but one of the commonest plants is Common Nettle, here in its original native habitat, while along the paths the striking Pendulous Sedge is conspicuous. We also have a patch of the non-native American Skunk Cabbage, which is very striking but can be very invasive, so we take care to contain it.

The dead and fallen trees, togther with the swampy ground, make these woods hard to move around in and the atmosphere is almost primeval. The ‘wildwood’ of prehistory must have been very similar, only immesurably bigger! The large quantity of dead wood is a very important habitat for a wide range of insects, while the soft, decaying wood is beloved of woodpeckers.

The wet ground is good habitat for a range of plants, including two species of golden-saxifrage and the wonderfully-named Townhall Clock, but one of the commoest plants is Common nettle, here in its original native habita. while along the paths the striking Pendulous Sedge is conspicuous. We also have a patch of the non-native American Skunk Cabbage, which can be very invasive, so we are at pains to contain it.